A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY AGAINST T-CELL RECEPTOR-ALPHA-BETA INDUCES ENDOGENOUS CYTOKINES AND PREVENTS MICE FROM A LETHAL INFECTION WITH LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES

In vivo induction of cytokines by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta and the protective effect induced by the mAb on a lethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studied . Injection of anti-TCR alpha beta mAb induced rapid production of end ogenous tumour necrosis factor in the spleens, and gamma interferon an d interleukin-6 in the bloodstreams and spleens of mice. Administratio n of anti-CD4 mAb, anti-CD8 mAb, or anti-Thy1.2 mAb resulted in suppre ssion of anti-TCR alpha beta mAb-induced endogenous cytokine productio n. Mice were protected against lethal L. monocytogenes infection when treated with anti-TCR alpha beta mAb. The protective effect was not de monstrated in CD4+ cell- or CD8+ cell-depleted mice. These results sug gest that anti-TCR alpha beta mAb shows a protective effect on a letha l infection with L. monocytogenes in mice and that the mAb-induced end ogenous cytokines might be involved in the effect of anti-TCR alpha be ta mAb.